Blue Moon

Ella and I were talking on the way home from the hospital cafe tonight (after having dinner with Mummy) and I pointed out the Blue moon to her, only to be rather brashly corrected that the moon was infact white. Thank you Ella, yes the moon is white but it is called a Blue moon when there is two full moons in one calendar month. (it is also a blue moon if there are 4 full moons in one season, but that is not the case in this instance.)
I stand corrected.

Winter Solstice

Ella wrapping up warm, including Daddies Ugg boots. terribly fasionable.
Mummy is up early for breakfast all the time.... Wink wink...
Winter solstice festival in Napier, fire dancers on the stage at the sound shell on the waterfront.
this is a diabolo or glorified yoyo, with neon lights attached.
Milly, Ella, Tom, and Jakie on the wall. It was verrrrrry cold but the kids didn't seem to mind. far too exciting to be bothered about the cold.
Ella wasn't too happy about the fire works, it was all a bit daunting i think, once the big bangs started going off... she didn't want to look... but it was very pretty never the less.

walking up the peak, collecting pine cones for the Cox's fire. I think Tom found the biggest pine cone. We all enjoyed the picnic morning tea that Glen carried up the hill for us... Joe and Ella expended the most energy, (all part of the plan...) and both slept well that day...

COLD!

Photo does not do it justice, but this is the view over Hastings towards the hills, and Taupo, and there is a considerable amount of snow on those hills, which perhaps explains why it has been so cold here this week!
Ella decided that it was a bit windy, and cold, and that she would rather just hop back in the car thanks very much dad.
This is much more like it... snuggling in bed with Mummy, (or is that the other way around, Mummy snuggling in bed with Ella, trying to avoid getting up and facing the cold day...)

visit from the Hutchinson's

Kerin and Barry thought that they would just get to catch up, and have a coffee with us as they went through Napier, but little did they know we had other plans, and that they were on babysitting!!!

Queens Birthday weekend

How slack am I, no updates for 3 weeks! finally here is one with what we did for the long weekend.
The Simmons family all scrubbed up ready to go to a party!
yay!!! any excuse to wear my party dress said Ella

Johnny Ben Annabell Ella & Ang at the Elm’s chapel in Tauranga.

Alex and Gary, getting married, good excuse for a party!

Cool wedding car and fitting with the French theme to the wedding!

Sunrise Sunday morning, mount Maunganui

Ella doing her teenage mutant ninja turtle act

Ang and Ella on the beach in Tauranga

Monday, and back in the Hawkes bay, (Ang had to work a long day) Ella and I went to the park for a bike ride with Lachie and Lily. Michael and Sarah were up in Taradale so Me and Ella hooked up for a bike ride in Anderson park. Eden slept in the buggy, and then joined us for a slide! Lachie pushed the girls on the roundabout

And encouraged Ella to climb to the top of the rope net

Ella and Lily comparing handle bar tassels!

Lachie just wanted to race!